灰色

huīsè

gray

HSK 5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"灰色" (huīsè) literally means "gray," referring to the color between black and white. It is commonly used to describe objects, clothing, weather, or moods that have a neutral or subdued tone.

Common Contexts

  • Describing colors of items like clothes, cars, or buildings.
  • Depicting weather conditions, especially cloudy or overcast skies.
  • Figuratively expressing feelings of gloom, uncertainty, or melancholy.

Collocations and Patterns

  • "灰色衣服" (gray clothes): a common phrase to describe neutral-colored clothing.
  • "灰色天空" (gray sky): used in weather descriptions.
  • "心情灰色" (gray mood): metaphorical use to express sadness or dull emotions.

Usage Notes

When using "灰色" to describe mood, it conveys a sense of dullness or sadness but is less intense than words like "悲伤" (sad) or "沮丧" (depressed). It often implies a subdued or ambiguous emotional state.

Avoid confusing "灰色" with "" (huī'àn), which emphasizes darkness or gloominess more strongly.

Example Sentences

这件衣服是灰色的,很百搭。

Zhè jiàn yīfu shì huīsè de, hěn bǎidā.

This piece of clothing is gray and very versatile.

天空被厚厚的灰色云层覆盖着。

Tiānkōng bèi hòuhòu de huīsè yúncéng fùgàizhe.

The sky is covered by thick gray clouds.

他的心情有点灰色,似乎很失落。

Tā de xīnqíng yǒudiǎn huīsè, sìhū hěn shīluò.

His mood is a bit gray, seeming quite down.